$250,000 gift, 5-year commitment received from Brenner family

March (2017)—The Winston-Salem State University Foundation has received a $250,000 gift from Mike and Wendy Brenner that will create a distinguished faculty position in the College of Arts, Sciences, Business and Education.

The donation, with a 100 percent match from the University of North Carolina Board of Governors Distinguished Professors Endowment Trust Fund, will create a $500,000 endowment to help WSSU attract outstanding faculty. Endowed professorship funds support faculty salaries and research-related expenses. They allow the university to attract and retain the highest caliber faculty.

In addition, the Brenners have pledged $125,000 – $25,000 annually for five years – to support student success. The first $25,000 gift was received in January.

“The Brenner family has a strong family culture of supporting the Winston-Salem community,” said WSSU Chancellor Elwood L. Robinson. “We could not be more pleased that Mike and Wendy are investing in Winston-Salem State University. Their gifts help us in our endeavor to provide our students with the high-quality education they so deserve.”

Wendy Brenner said the gift occurred after an on-campus meeting in January where Robinson and WSSU Provost Brenda Allen outlined the university’s 2016-21 Strategic Plan. The vision calls for a significant investment of resources to provide students the strong writing, problem-solving and other critical skills they need to compete successfully in the global marketplace.

“We feel really good about what we are doing,” said Wendy Brenner. “Winston-Salem State University is a great institution and a great community resource. Creating educational opportunities for people in Winston-Salem is something important to us. We challenge others to support WSSU.”

The Winston-Salem State University Foundation, a private, non-profit organization independent of the university, generates resources to support the strategic initiatives of the university. For more information, please visit the WSSU Foundation website.